Persecution takes many forms – from oppression and discrimination to denial of constitutional and internationally acknowledged freedoms.

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Christians in the Middle East and North Africa region have long been discriminated against, marginalized, detained, imprisoned, tortured and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. Those most at risk are converts from Islam. Often theirs is a silent suffering - cut off from family and Christian fellowship and vulnerable to abuse by State security forces and extremist groups.

At MEC we believe that as Christians we are called to stand with those who are persecuted. Persecution is essentially unjust. Therefore, the Christian concerned for God’s justice will either face persecution him/herself, or be faced with having to respond to the injustice visited on someone else. Dealing with injustice is part of the calling of the Christian life. By their very relationship with God and the world, Christians will be faced with injustice.

"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3)

Latest Requests

Christians in Sudan request our continued prayers for Michael Yat (49) and Peter Yen Reith (36), two South Sudanese pastors on trial in Khartoum who had their latest hearing yesterday, 14th July.

In yesterday's hearing, lawyers presented the case for the defence. There were two witnesses, an IT expert and a retired army general. The pastors have stated that some of the "incriminating" documents allegedly found on their computers are not theirs. The IT expert testified as to how easy it would have been for others to plant the documents on their computers without their knowledge. The retired general testified that the documents used as evidence against the pastors are in the public domain and are not related to military or other state secrets as had been alleged.

The next hearing will be on 23rd July and will be for procedural purposes only. The verdict is expected during a hearing on 5th August.

Observers from a number of foreign embassies were present at yesterday's hearing. An official from the Sudanese Ministry of Justice told one of the pastors' lawyers that the extent of outside interest has led the Government to take a very close interest in the case.

On 3rd July we requested prayer for an associate of the two pastors, Pastor Hafez, and for one of their lawyers, Mohaned Mustafa. Both were briefly detained on 1st July when challenging a government employee who was overseeing the destruction of parts of the church complex. The employee was attempting to destroy a part of the complex that was not within the government order. It is still not known when the case against Pastor Hafez and Mohaned will be brought to court.

Christians in Sudan ask us to pray that:a. Pastor Yat and Pastor Reith, together with their families, will know the Lord's peace and protectionb. all charges against them will be droppedc. similarly, that the charges against Pastor Hafez and Mohaned will be droppedd. church leaders in Sudan will know the Lord's wisdom in the face of increasing pressures against theme. all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

May be circulated to general mailing lists, outside organisations, and quoted from freely in reports citing "Middle East Concern" as the source of the information.

On 8th July MEC requested prayer following the abduction of Father Dhiya Aziz, an Iraqi Franciscan priest serving in north-west Syria. Fr Dhiya had been missing since Saturday 4th July.

MEC is pleased to report that he has been released. The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, the order to which Fr Dhiya is affiliated, reported his liberation on 9th July, noting that he had been treated well during his ordeal. They added that Jabhat an-Nusra, the al-Qaeda affiliate group controlling that area, allegedly assisted in securing Fr Dhiya's release from another group responsible for the abduction.

This incident highlights the significant danger of kidnapping at the hands of a wide range of extremist or opportunist groups, faced by many communities in Syria and Iraq. Minority communities feel especially vulnerable to abduction, including kidnappings for ransom.

Between 21st June and 1st July, four Christians were abducted in Baghdad. One was released following police intervention. For the other three, ransoms were demanded and paid. However, two were murdered, even though ransoms had been paid. The other was released. Imad Youkhana, an Iraqi Christian member of parliament, issued a statement on 9th July in which he decried this violence and urged Iraqi authorities to provide greater protection for Iraq’s Christians. He claimed that the violence is part of an intimidation campaign to force Christians to emigrate, but noted the wider impact as the unity of Iraqi society is undermined. An Iraqi NGO, the Hammurabi Human Rights Organization, today (13th July) issued a similar appeal for the protection of Christians in Iraq.

Christians in Syria and Iraq are grateful for the prayers of many around the world. They ask for continued prayer that:a. the families of those abducted and murdered in Iraq will know the presence and comfort of Jesus as they mournb. Fr Dhiya and others recently released will know the Lord's healing and restoration following their ordeals, and that they and their associates will know His protection and wisdom in all aspects of their life and ministryc. all who are still abducted will know the Lord's comfort and sustaining, and that they will be released soond. Christians in Syria and Iraq will know the Spirit's wisdom and guidance each day e. violence will cease, peace will be restored and the clear rule of law will be applied equally for all in every part of Syria and Iraqf. those responsible for the abduction and murder of innocent civilians, and all who use violent means, will know the Spirit's conviction of sin, seek the Father's forgiveness and find new life in the Son

May be circulated to general mailing lists and outside organisations, and quoted from freely in reports citing "Middle East Concern" as the source of the information.

Iranian Christians rejoice in a positive development in the case of Farshid Fathi, in prison since December 2010, who has been informed that he is due for early release.

Farshid was among 22 believers arrested in Tehran on 26th December 2010 as part of a wider wave of arrests. By the end of April 2011 all had been released except Farshid. In April 2012 Farshid was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, charged with "acting against national security through membership of a Christian organization, collection of funds, and propaganda against the Islamic Regime by helping spread Christianity in the country". Originally held in Evin Prison, Farshid was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj in August 2014. An additional year was added to his sentence following claims by the authorities that alcohol had been discovered during a raid on Evin Prison in April 2014.

On 4th July prison authorities in Rajai Shahr notified Farshid in writing that he is due for early release in December 2015 (rather than December 2017 if he were to serve his full sentence).

There have been developments in the cases of three others sentenced on account of their faith. Pastor Behnam Irani, serving a six year sentence since April 2010, has been allowed a 15-day furlough from Ghezal Hesar prison on payment of bail equivalent to $50,000. Eskandar Rezai and Bijan Haghighi, members of a fellowship raided in Shiraz in October 2012, have been summoned to serve their sentences. Along with five others, Eskandar and Bijan were given sentences ranging from one year to six years for crimes of "action against national security" and "propaganda against the order of the system." In 2014 the other five were summoned to serve their sentences in Shiraz, but Eskandar and Bijan remained free on bail. Following the recent summons, Eskander is now in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, serving a one year sentence, and Bijan will soon start serving a three year prison sentence.

Iranian Christians request our prayers that:

a. the Iranian authorities will stand by their commitment to release Farshid in December, or earlier

b. God will keep Farshid and bless him in these last months of imprisonment

c. the furlough will be a time of great encouragement and renewal for Behnam and his family

d. prisoners in Iran will be treated with respect and dignity as beings created in the image of God, and that others in prison on account of their faith in Jesus, including Eskander and Bijan and their five associates, will be released soon

e. all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

May be circulated to general mailing lists, outside organisations, and quoted from freely in reports citing "Middle East Concern" as the source of the information.

As violence continues in many parts of their country, Syrian Christians request renewed prayer for peace and for all affected by the ongoing conflict, including Christian communities following the abduction of a Franciscan priest on Saturday 4th July in north-west Syria.

Father Dhiya Aziz, who is Iraqi, was taken by militants from Yacoubieh, Idlib Province, where he serves as parish priest. The militants were purportedly taking him for a brief meeting with the Emir who exercises authority in that area, which is under the control of the al-Qaeda affiliate group, Jabhat an-Nusra.

The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land report that no news has been received of Fr. Dhiya since his abduction. Some draw hope from the fact that two militants later returned to collect Fr. Dhiya's medication. Some also draw hope from the fact that, in October 2014, Fr. Hanna Jallouf, the Franciscan priest of the neighbouring parish of Qunayeh, was released along with several of his parishioners within a few days of their abduction by militants.

In north-east Syria, advances by Daesh ('Islamic State') militants in the city of Hassaka on 24th June led to further mass displacement, including of Assyrian Christian families, some of whom had fled to the city when their villages were overrun by Daesh in February.

Syrian Christians ask us to pray that:

a. Fr. Dhiya will know the Lord's presence and protection, and that he will be released soon

b. others abducted who remain unaccounted for will similarly know the Lord's comfort and sustaining, and that they will be released soon

c. those displaced from their homes will know the Lord's care and provision, and will be able to return before long

d. violence will cease, peace will be restored and the clear rule of law will be applied equally for all in Syria

e. those responsible for the murder and abduction of innocent civilians will know the Spirit's conviction of sin, seek the Father's forgiveness and find new life in the Son

May be circulated to general mailing lists and outside organisations, and quoted from freely in reports citing "Middle East Concern" as the source of the information.

Christians in Sudan request our continued prayers for Michael Yat (49) and Peter Yen Reith (36), two South Sudanese pastors on trial in Khartoum who had their latest hearing yesterday, 2nd July. They also request prayers for their lawyer, Mohaned Mustafa, and an associate, Pastor Hafez, both of whom were briefly detained on 1st July.

Yesterday the judge questioned Pastor Yat and Pastor Reith, focusing on why they should be involved in Christian ministry in an Islamic country, and decided their case would continue to trial. The next hearing has been set for 14th July. The two pastors' lawyer has been denied access to them. Pastor Yat and Pastor Reith were arrested in December 2014 and January 2015 respectively and charged with multiple offences, including undermining the constitutional system and espionage (offences which carry the death penalty) and blasphemy (which may be punished by whipping).

On 1st July Pastor Hafez of the Evangelical Church in Bahri (where Pastor Yat preached before his arrest) and Mohaned (the lawyer not only for the two pastors but also for the church) were arrested and detained briefly before being released on bail. The authorities had come to destroy part of the church complex, on the order of government officials. When Pastor Hafez and the lawyer complained that the government employee was attempting to destroy part of the church compound that was not within the government order, they were both arrested for obstructing a public servant in the exercise of his duties. The government employee continued to destroy the part of the compound that was not within the order.

The lawyer was driven to the police station but the pastor was made to walk there in handcuffs - a deliberate attempt to humiliate him. During his detention Pastor Hafez was hit on the side of his head with a gun. After his release he needed to go to hospital for x-rays.

It is not yet known when the case against Pastor Hafez and the lawyer will be brought to court.

Christians in Sudan ask us to pray that:a. Pastor Yat, Pastor Reith, Pastor Hafez and the lawyer Mohaned, together with their families, will know the Lord's peace and protectionb. all charges against them will be droppedc. church leaders in Sudan will know the Lord's wisdom in the face of increasing pressures against themd. all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

May be circulated to general mailing lists, outside organisations, and quoted from freely in reports citing "Middle East Concern" as the source of the information.